PCAA mandates airlines to prevent monkeypox spread

• All staff of airlines and ground handling services must wear masks.
• The authority has instructed the sanitization of hands of both staff and passengers.
• All luggage must also be disinfected, as directed by the PCAA.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has issued directives to all airlines arriving from abroad to implement preventive measures against monkeypox at airports. This comes after the country reported its first case of the virus earlier this week in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A new strain of the virus has sparked global concern due to its increased transmissibility through close contact. On August 15, Sweden confirmed a case of the new variant linked to a growing outbreak in Africa, marking its spread beyond the continent.

Health authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa initially reported three monkeypox cases, later clarifying that two cases were from last year, with one being a recent strain. The PCAA’s guidelines include providing masks to passengers and mandating mask-wearing for airline and ground handling staff.

In addition, airlines are required to sanitize hands, disinfect luggage, and isolate passengers showing symptoms of monkeypox. Contact tracing efforts are underway, with the federal health ministry monitoring the situation closely and conducting genomic sequencing of the virus sample.

How much do you know?

What measures are airlines and ground handling services required to take according to the PCAA directives?

A. Wear masks

B. Sanitize hands

C. Disinfect luggage

D. All of the above

What did health authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa initially report regarding monkeypox cases?

A. Three cases of monkeypox

B. One recent case and two cases from last year

C. No cases reported

D. Five new cases

What did Sweden confirm on August 15 in relation to the new variant of monkeypox?

A. No cases reported

B. A case linked to a growing outbreak in Africa

C. Cases spreading only within Africa

D. Decrease in monkeypox cases

What is the main concern regarding the new strain of the monkeypox virus?

A. Increased transmissibility through close contact

B. Decreased transmissibility

C. Reduced severity of symptoms

D. Limited geographical spread

What is being conducted by the federal health ministry in response to the monkeypox situation?

A. Providing treatment to all infected individuals

B. Monitoring closely and conducting genomic sequencing of virus samples

C. Ignoring the situation

D. Blaming airlines for the spread

What actions are required for airlines towards passengers showing symptoms of monkeypox?

A. Isolate them

B. Provide them with masks

C. Disinfect their luggage

D. All of the above

This question is required